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August 2016

Warm welcome in Congress
enhances Youth Tour experience
tudents who work hard to do well in
school tend to have more opportunities available to help them excel in
their education and succeed in life.
One of the best opportunities for
rural students in Mississippi is the Electric Power
Associations of Mississippi Youth Leadership program.
The highlight of the program is the Electric
Cooperative Youth Tour, which takes students on a
week-long, jam-packed visit to Washington, D.C.
Each student is chosen for the all-expenses-paid trip
through a competitive process sponsored by his or
her local electric power association. (Meet our 2016
Youth Tour participants on page 13 of this issue.)
What elevates our Youth Tour beyond simply a
series of stops at memorials and museums is the
warm, personal treatment our Mississippi group
receives during their visit to Capitol Hill. U.S. senators and representatives lead extremely busy lives, as
do most all elected officials. Yet Mississippi’s congressional delegation has made every effort to meet
personally with our Youth Tour student group every
year since the Youth Leadership program began 30
years ago.
This year all of Mississippi’s senators and representatives were able to meet with the students, for
which we are grateful.
Not only that, but Rep. Gregg Harper personally
led our group, as he has done the past several years,
onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
during a recess. He gave 64 Mississippi students,
some of whom had never even traveled outside the
state, the privilege of standing in the room not only
where members of Congress debate, but where the
President delivers the annual State of the Union
address to the nation, where world leaders speak
before Congress and, in September 2015, where
Pope Francis of the Holy See addressed a joint meeting of the House and Senate.
In his speech, Pope Francis referred to America as
“a land of dreams ... that lead to action, participation and commitment.” His words express exactly
what we hope our Youth Leadership program instills

S

On the cover
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, a
component of the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Youth Leadership
program, marked its 30th anniversary
in June. Sixty-four students from every
region of the state enjoyed a week
immersed in U.S. history, government
and culture in Washington, D.C. Meet
these outstanding students, who won
local competitions to earn the trip, on
page 13.

in its student participants: the desire to act as leaders
as they take part in and commit to making their
communities, state and
nation better places to live
for everyone.
These students are our
future citizens. Their
dreams could open up possibilities and options for the
future that we adults might
never imagine. They deserve
every educational opportuMy Opinion
nity we can offer them.
Michael Callahan
Executive Vice President/CEO
We appreciate the
Electric Power Associations
encouragement
given the
of Mississippi
Youth Tour students by
our state’s congressional
delegation. Mississippi’s elected officials have a long
history of being supportive of electric power associations as well. We enjoy a productive working relationship on behalf of our members with all elected
officials, from local to federal levels.
Officials trust us to represent the best interests of
all our members regarding electric service and,
increasingly, community development. The last
thing any lawmaker wants is to support proposals
that could impact the safety, affordability or reliabilty of the electric service we provide. Yet, if we are
not diligent in monitoring legislative proposals and
identifying any unintended consequences, it could
happen.
Elected officials have come to rely on electric
power associations to keep them informed of potentially negative byproducts of legislative proposals.
They trust us as member-owned electric cooperatives
whose sole mission is service to members. Not profits for investors.
Congratulations to the 2016 Youth Leadership
program participants. I hope they long remember
the friends they’ve made not only among themselves
and with us, but in Congress as well.

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Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is
published eleven times a year (Jan.-Nov.) by
Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, Inc.,
P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or
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Visit us online at
www.todayinmississippi.com

I

Today in Mississippi

I

Our Homeplace

The historic Greenville Cemetery is home to the Blanton Magnolia, a Mississippi Champion Tree believed to be around 160 years old.

Mississippi is
Sweet honeysuckle and azaleas so lovely;
Coffee, grits, fried chicken and gravy.
Family gatherings and Southern ladies;
Four-wheeler riding: a little bit crazy.
Sweet magnolia and climbing trees;
Lighting a bonfire and rocking to the beat.
Swimming in the creek to escape the heat;
Losing some but never getting beat.
Jacked-up trucks and sweet iced tea;
Picking your six-string and shelling peas.
Working hard—it’s not a life of ease;
Remembering your manners: thank you and please.
I am lucky to live in Mississippi,
Where I am happy and free.
I may be prejudiced, but to me
Mississippi is the best and always will be.
— Grace Anne Holloman, age 16, Lucedale
Mississippi is our adopted home. I am retired Air Force
and DOD civilian. My wife is retired Air Force and
USPS. We were stationed here in 1986 and somehow
knew we would retire here. We bought a house in 1987
and have beeen here since. My wife and daughter both
earned degrees from MUW. Our daughter is locally
employed and lives about five miles from us, so we see
her and her family quite often. The grandchildren visit
several times a week and we often go out to eat. My wife
is locally involved in the arts program and I enjoy playing golf with my friends, since 1988. I am from upstate
New York and my wife is from North Carolina. We love
it [here] and enjoy the weather tremendously.
— John V. Rogowski

What’s Mississippi to you?
What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your
thoughts to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS
39158, or to news@epaofms.com. Please keep your comments
brief. Submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity.

3

4

I

Today in Mississippi

I

August 2016

Young pilot’s
dream takes flight
By building his own airplane, John Luke Gross
achieves what many pilots only dream about

son not only the motor skills to operate a plane but the
proper mindset of a pilot.
“It was pretty smooth sailing once he realized his old
man knew what he was talking about,” Gross said.
So when John Luke obtained a pilot’s license at age
17, as soon as legally possible, no one was surprised.
But no one anticipated his next move.
“To get my pilot’s license I was borrowing somebody else’s airplane, and after I got my license I had to
give them back the keys,” John Luke said. “I was all
excited to have my license but I couldn’t go fly anymore. I decided I wanted to build
an airplane.”
John Luke had always enjoyed
building things, including modJohn Luke Gross’ confidence and self-motivation kept him on track for more than four els. But a real airplane? To fly?
Fortunately for John Luke, his
years while building an airplane with the help of his father.
dad didn’t flinch.
These same qualities led to John Luke’s selection as Central Electric Power Associa“I was all for it because that’s
tion’s representative for the 2010 Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Youth Leadalso been my dream all my life. I
ership program, including the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.
Youth Tour offers a rare and memorable opportunity that John Luke recommends for just always figured it would be
my airplane I’d build first, not
all high school juniors. “To do all that with people who become your friends is a lot of
his,” Gross said laughing.
fun, and just getting to see all the history, like George Washington’s house, is cool. I
At first, John Luke had in
wish I could go back and do it again,” he said.
mind a simple ultralight plane,
Read more about this summer’s Youth Tour on page 13.
but Gross shot down that idea. “I

By Debbie Stringer
John Luke Gross can’t remember a time in his 23
years when he didn’t want to fly.
“He started learning when he was little, when he
would ride with me,” John Gross, his father, said. “I
told him whenever he could push the rudder pedals all
the way to the floor, then I’d teach him to fly. So he
really learned to fly when he was about 10.”
Gross is an ex-military pilot and former flight
instructor at Columbus Air Force Base, and a 16-year
pilot for FedEx—a person well qualified to teach his

Another Youth Leadership success

John Luke was inspired by World War II-era aircraft when he chose colors
and patterns for his airplane. He and his father, John, built the high-performance RV-4 aircraft from a series of kits. John Luke was 18 when they
started the four-year project.

told him if he was going to build an airplane, he needed to build an airplane,” Gross said.
He and John Luke chose the RV-4, a tandem-seat
airplane manufactured in kit form by Van’s Aircraft.
The propeller-powered aircraft is known for its safety,
high performance and speed.
They agreed that financing the project would be
John Luke’s responsibility. “I told him I’d love to help
him but I’ve got four kids to send to college. I can’t
afford to build an airplane right now or I’d be building
mine,” Gross said.
“I paid for it by cutting grass. It was a lot of grass,”
John Luke deadpanned.
In fact, he mowed more than 1,700 yards, worked
two summers at Central Electric Power Association and
took on odd jobs—all while a full-time biological engineering student at Mississippi State University.
Fortunately, John Luke didn’t have to pay for the
entire project at once. Plane components arrived in a
series of kits purchased separately, so as he and his dad
worked on the tail kit, John Luke cut more grass to
purchase the wings.

August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

I

Construction of the airplane started in a 100-year-old corn crib once used by John Luke’s greatgrandfather. John Luke and his father endured wasps and hot weather to fabricate the wings and
tail section before moving the project into the family’s garage, and eventually a hangar. John Luke
logged and made photos of every step of the plane’s construction, including the three photos below.

John Luke and his father, John, an ex-military pilot, prepare the airplane for painting last month at their CarthageLeake County Airport hangar. John Gross is a member of Central Electric Power Association.

Father and son knew the aircraft assembly would be
complex and difficult. It would demand skills and
knowledge they didn’t have, plus years of labor. John
Luke’s commitment and patience would be tested at
every stage.
“There were tons of times when I kind of wished I
hadn’t got into it ... but I can’t quit once I start something,” John Luke said.

the project.
John Luke and his father also
found that, when facing a monumental project like building an
airplane, celebrating small milestones along the way with root
beers and steaks keeps spirits
high.
“The end was so far away
The Gross team drove the first rivet three days after that if you didn’t get excited
John Luke graduated from Carthage High School in
about small things, like getting
the class of 2011. They devoted the next four years,
the fuel system hooked up,
four months and 16 days—2,000 hours total—to
you’d bog down in the project,”
building John Luke’s airplane, mostly on weekends.
John Luke said.
There were also the “countless hours of head scratchHe documented every aspect
ing—probably more head scratching than actual build- of the plane’s construction, in
ing,” John Luke said.
part to satisfy an FAA requireTo his dismay, the kits came with scant instructions. ment for the plane’s certifica“They literally sent us some plans and some sheet metal tion. The resulting computer log
and said good luck,” Gross said. “There are over 10,000 contains 3,000 entries and as
rivets in [the plane] and every one of those holes had to many photographs.
be measured, marked, drilled, riveted—the whole bit.”
On Oct. 9, 2015, the kit
“The instructions for the brakes just said, ‘Install the officially became an airplane
brakes,’” John Luke said.
with the issuance of an FAA air“That was it! And we had a bench full of brake
worthiness certificate.
parts,” Gross said.
John Luke also earned a
The kits provided only the material to build the air- repairman’s certificate, making
frame; John Luke had to purchase separately the
him not only the plane’s pilot
engine, wooden propeller, instruments, avionics, uphol- but its licensed mechanic as well.
stery and paint.
Learning as they worked, they fabricated parts from
On Nov. 14, 2015, the gleaming new RV-4 rose
the sheet metal, created the plane’s electrical and fuel
from the Carthage-Leake County Airport runway for
systems, modified the fuselage to reduce drag and built the first time. Gross piloted the aircraft while John
the engine from a 160 horsepower Lycoming block.
Luke watched from a chase plane and made photos.
“They didn’t even tell you what parts to get. I had to
Gross circled the airport about an hour to check out
figure out what parts that engine needed to work,”
the plane’s systems, then flew over Carthage. In accorJohn Luke said.
dance with FAA requirements, Gross flew the airplane
An internet forum for RV-4 owners became a valufor a test flight period of 40 hours over the next few
able source of information and advice for all phases of
months before handing John Luke the keys.

John Luke made his first flight in the airplane he
built on Feb. 6.
“It was a blast,” he said, a big grin spreading across
his face.
For now, he limits his flights to small airports
around the state. So far, his plane has more than 100
hours of flight time and more than 300 landings.
“I just love it. Every time I get in it, I can’t stop
smiling,” he said.
Continued on page 18

5

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Today in Mississippi

A

I

August 2016

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t has been 11 years since Katrina took aim on Waveland in
August of 2005 and proceeded to devastate the entire area
from New Orleans to Mobile
Bay. But over the course of that decade
the Mississippi Gulf Coast has come
back to at least what it was before the
storm, and more in many cases.
There are still empty lots along the
Gulf with “steps to nowhere” where
houses used to be. But in actuality, some
of those empty lots are leftovers from
Camille, which also hit in August. And it
shocks me to think of how long ago,
1969—nearly 50 years ago! But these
two storms in particular and others in
general are still present memories on the
Coast and topics of conversation a lot
more than you would think, to this very
day.
I had the chance to spend a week on
the Coast at the invitation of an old
friend of mine from my early days of

broadcasting. Janie O’Keefe now runs
Disability Connection, a non-profit
organization on the Coast that helps all
sorts of people work through all sorts of
problems. Her non-profit survives on
grants for the most part.
Well, Janie
applied for a
tourism grant
from the Gulf
Coast Heritage Tourism
folks and
offered to
slant the outcome toward
Mississippi
including
Seen
handicapped
by Walt Grayson
availability
information in
the brochures
and web page and videos and the like
that are produced. And she got the grant!
So Janie invited me to come down and

spend a week in the six coastal counties
helping shoot the video. Gulf Coast Heritage Tourism’s grant will fund the products she produces and a shout out of the
Beau Rivage for providing accommodations.
All that said, I got the chance to run
all over the place, from Pearlington to
Pascagoula, Picayune to Lucedale to
video the sites Heritage Tourism wanted
to be sure were included. In the process,
I got to see the Coast up close and in
detail for the first time really since Katrina, with the exception of occasional
glancing blows to snatch a quick story
here or there. I was extremely pleased
and impressed with what I saw, to say
the least.
Probably the most impressive difference between pre- and post-Katrina on
the coast has to be the infrastructure, the
bridges in particular. The high-rises
between Bay Saint Louis and Pass Christian and between Biloxi and Ocean

Take a stroll out one of the nature trails at the
Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point and
you can catch a pretty good view of what the coastal
area is today, a combination of functionality and
beauty. Pristine is nature at your feet with the new
Highway 613 Bridge in the background. Photo: Walt
Grayson

Springs are architectural wonders. It’s
amazing how they managed to blend
functionality and beauty together so well.
Before Katrina, Miz Jo and I would
ride the quaint residential streets of Bay
Saint Louis, imagining which little seaside cottage we wanted. It took a decade,
but we were able to finally do the same
thing again the other day without having
to dodge debris or reconstruction.
The stalwart icon of the Coast, the
Biloxi Lighthouse has resumed normal
existence to the extent it was surrounded
with—not volunteers cleaning up as was
the case a decade ago—but young people
hunched over their cell phones trying to
capture a Pokeymon Go character. Life
can’t get much more normal than that.
The Biloxi Small Craft Harbor was full
of shrimpers selling their catch right off
their boats. People were playing on the
beach. The NASA museum on the west
end of the Coast was full, and folks were
discovering the new Pascagoula River
Audubon Center at Moss Point on the
east end.
Right after Katrina the thought of the
slow process of rebuilding seemed like it
would take forever. But look now. It’s
amazing how quickly “forever” flies by!

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Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown
Stories.” Contact Grayson at
walt@waltgrayson.com.

8 I Today in Mississippi I August 2016

Rudbeckias are solid landscape choices
hen the summer
season heats up
starting in July, I
really like seeing
Rudbeckias in our
Mississippi landscapes. Who can argue how the brightly
colored flowers bring needed freshness
when some of our other flowering plants
may be showing wear and tear?
There can be some confusion in terms
of labeling, but I think Rudbeckia hirta
and Rudbeckia fulgid both look good.
Rudbeckias are pretty easy to grow
from seed, but it’s a little too late to start
them now. Mark
your calendar to
sow their seeds
next spring. This
time of year, garden centers usually have containers with large
plants in full
Southern
bloom. My wife
Gardening
bought a big
by Dr. Gary Bachman
container with a
gorgeous Denver
Daisy rudbeckia a couple of weeks ago.
Rudbeckias have received recognition
in Mississippi for their landscape and
garden performance. Here are some of
my favorites.

W

In 1999, the Rudbeckia Indian
Summer was selected as a Mississippi
Medallion winner. It has been a real
showoff wherever I have seen this plant
in the landscape. The upright stems are
sturdy enough to display the huge flowers, which can be up to a whopping 9
inches across. Petal colors are bright and
cheery, ranging from sunshine yellow to
warm oranges at the petal bases. Each
flower has a delicious-looking, rich
chocolate-brown center cone.
Cherokee Sunset is a fantastic choice
that blends warm, autumnal colors of
yellow, orange and mahogany bronze.
The flowers are big—3 to 4 inches in
diameter—and are a mix of singles and
doubles, especially when grown in full
sun. Stems will reach about 24 inches
tall and are sturdy enough to hold the
large flowers without staking. Cherokee
Sunset is a good choice for cutting for
use in fall indoor arrangements.
Rudbeckia Prairie Sun is a robust
selection with distinctive blooms. The
bicolor flowers have orange petals tipped
in bright primrose yellow with lightgreen centers. The size of these 5-inch
flowers makes it hard not to notice
them wherever they are grown, whether
in your landscape or a large container
on the patio. As with the other
Rudbeckia varieties, these make fantastic

Rudbeckia Indian Summer is a real showoff in the landscape. The upright stems display flowers up to a whopping 9 inches across. Photo: MSU Extension/Gary Bachman

cut flowers.
These three great Rudbeckia choices
are also All-America Selections winners.
All Rudbeckias should be planted in
full sun for best flowering and color.
These plants grow best in compostamended, well-drained soils, but they
tolerate poor clay soils. While they are
known and grown for their tolerance of
droughty conditions, this attribute sometimes comes at the expense of flowering.
For best landscape performance, provide

consistent soil moisture. If you can water
during dry times, you will be rewarded
with continued flowering.
Rudbeckias are considered lower
maintenance plants, but you must deadhead the fading flowers to keep the
plants blooming all summer long.
The home gardener should take
advantage of this summer-long blooming
by bringing the landscape inside with
gorgeous, cut Rudbeckia stems. To
increase vase life for all Rudbeckias, condition the cut stems, which opens the
vascular tissues for better water uptake.
To do this, place cut stems in warm
water of about 100 degrees for about 10
minutes.
If Rudbeckias aren’t already in your
landscape, choose some now to bring
home instant color and freshness.
Dr. Gary Bachman is an associate
Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University
Coastal Research and Extension Center in
Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern
Gardening” radio and TV programs.

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August

August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

I

9

Delight and misery
Neal Brown fishes in a small creek
while on a canoe trip with the
author. Photo: Tony Kinton

ogi Berra, folksy philosopher and baseball great,
was correct when he said,
“It’s hard to make predictions, especially about the future!” Yet,
that is exactly what I am attempting to
do in this column. It will be hard, no,
impossible, to offer surety in this matter,
but based on more than 60 years of
observing, tolerating and often enjoying
August, I feel somewhat confident that a
few of the predictions outlined below
will be accurate.
I predict August will be hot in
Mississippi. That statement is less than
breaking news, for August is typically
hot. In fact, it can be the hottest month
we experience here. But that heat and
other elements somewhat related to it
are pertinent to this discourse. I also predict August will be dry. See those last

three sentences above for additional
insight.
I predict August will see creeks and
rivers flowing placidly, their currents so
gentle that it can be difficult to determine whether or not they even exist. It
is a lethargic, sleepy flow that seems to
have come from nowhere and is going
nowhere. Collections of gnats and similar flying creatures may hover just above
the surface. A dragonfly may rest on a
cypress knee or moist stream-edge bank
or downed tree limb. The odd leaf may
drift ever so calmly on sluggish water,
spinning slowly as per the dictates of an
obstruction that impedes its downstream
direction. These things I predict even
though I am doing so more than a
month from those future happenings.
Now let’s contemplate the what ifs
regarding said predictions, but not the
what if they don’t happen but the what
if they do. And they likely will. What
are we to make of these? Nothing more
than recognizing them as the norm. The
greater question is this: What are we to
do with them? That question can be
answered simply and with two words: go
fishing.
The weather and water conditions of
August paint a picture of and set the
stage for some of the finest and most
basic fishing available if the angler has
access to streams lining the state, and
generally the smaller the stream the bet-

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secluded haunts and be ready to collect
anything that drifts by. A white spinnerbait has always worked well for me. But
take along a good supply, for you will
surely break them off with regularity.
Another good hot spot for Kentucky
bass on small streams is where the water
shallows up and flows over a sandbar,
only to drop off just downstream from
the bar. Water will be a touch deeper
there, and a spotted bass or two will
most likely be holding in that swifter
water. And don’t give up on a cast to
such a spot until the lure is literally out
of the water. I have had Kentucky bass
trail a lure until it is only a foot or two
from the shallow trickle before grabbing
that lure.
For catfish, perch, crappie and even
the occasional bass, hit those deep holes
along off-side curves that may host a
steep bank. Fish near the bottom with a
typical bream or crappie rig, a spincast
or, particularly for catfish, a limb hook
or one attached to a limber pole stuck in
the bank. For the latter two, bait up as
late in the afternoon as possible and
check the sets at night or very early the
following morning. Some really fine
spotted cats come each fall through use
of this tactic.
And how long into the fall will all
this last? That is never certain, but
October or early November is a good
guess. As long as the water is low and
clear and the temperatures hot or moderate, fishing can be excellent. It’s just
now beginning—this fine late-summer,
early-fall angling. August is the time to
get started.

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ter. No bigger
rivers are
required, though
these can be
highly productive
as well. A tiny
creek narrow
enough to step
by Tony Kinton
across in places
will work just
fine, and it could be one along which
the angler will see no others of his or her
persuasion.
One benefit of low water and high
heat is that fish tend to congregate in
deeper pools. And know that deep is relative here. A river such as the Pearl of
my area may exhibit holes that are 10
feet deep or more, while a small creek
may have only a scattered few that are
even 6 feet. Still, these holes are fine
places to locate fish. And those fish will
be varied. Catfish, perch, crappie and
bass should be common.
My personal favorite for late summer
and fall fishing is the Kentucky bass,
also called spotted bass. Common to
most waters, this is a spunky little fish
that attacks a lure with vigor. But contrary to what was just noted, those deep
holes may not be the very best locales
for the spotted bass. Rather, move above
or below these holes and fish along a log
that has a dark pocket on one or both
sides. A Kentucky will hold in these

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Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors
writer for 30 years. His newest book,
“Rambling Through Pleasant Memories,” is
now available. Order from Amazon.com or
Kinton’s website: www.tonykinton.com.

As I reflect upon this time of year, I
remember the first day of school for
each of my children and grandchildren.
Thoughts include the anticipation of
meeting new teachers and excitement
over new school supplies.
It takes all of us to have good
schools. Whether it is volunteering in
the classroom, driving a school bus or
attending grandparent’s day, we all
play a role in our local school’s success.
It’s more than just slowing down in
the school zones; it’s about being
involved in the schools and communities that we love.

Singing River Electric understands
this and is committed to the schools in
our communities. We contribute to
local chambers of commerce scholarship programs for those entering college, sponsor youth leadership programs for high school juniors, and participate in the Pathways to Possibilities
Career Fair to help local middle school
students explore job fields and careers.
Our engineers and linemen visit grade
school classrooms across the service territory showing the importance of safety.
The real impact is in the interac-

tion. Whether it’s an employee coaching a sports team, working with the
school PTA or purchasing items during the holidays to support a classroom, we want our local students and
teachers to know we care.
We all know that education is vital
to the economic growth and well-being
of the communities where we live and
work. I ask you to join us, if you
aren’t already doing so, in supporting
our schools and teachers through volunteering or helping in some way. Our
students deserve nothing less than the
best education we can provide them.

Jeff Gray
Member Services Representative
gray@singingriver.com

Nearly everyone has one or more
ceiling fans in their home today, and
they will help you save energy when used
correctly. You may think ceiling fans
create cool air, but they actually move air
across your skin making you feel cooler.
Run ceiling fans in the rooms you are in,
and turn them off when you leave the
room.
Energy savings are based on air conditioning run times. When operating the
ceiling fan with your air conditioner, you
can turn up your A/C thermostat by one
degree and be just as comfortable. Doing
this can mean a 5 percent savings on
running your A/C unit, which is usually
the largest energy user in the home.
In the summer, operate the fan with
the air flowing toward the floor. It can
be set on any speed you wish. In the
winter, set the fan to operate in the
reverse direction on low speed; this
pushes air to the ceiling and forces the
warm air down to the floor area of your
home.

August 2016

Today in Mississippi 10a

2016 Annual Meeting
held on June 23
On June 23, Singing River Electric held its 2016
Annual Meeting at the Lucedale office.
During the meeting, General Manager and CEO
Mike Smith reviewed the cooperative’s 2015
accomplishments and looked ahead at goals for the
current year. Discussion included system improvements and two new substations in Perry and
Jackson counties, working to become PCI compliant, plans for offering pre-pay billing and adding a
live outage map and outage reporting to the
SmartHub app. Members watched a video that
explained how solar power works and gave details
about South Mississippi Electric’s 100-kilowatt
community solar site located in Lucedale. In addition, Smith discussed retiring capital credits to
members.
“The cooperative, last year, retired over $2.5
million in capital credits to our members from the
years 1980 and 1981. This is a return of those
member’s investment as a member and owner of
Singing River Electric.”
Board President Kristal Sisson also addressed the
members and encouraged all to contribute to the
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Energy Assistance
program to help fellow members who need help
paying their power bills. She noted that the number of contributing accounts doubled to more than
1,700 by the end of 2015.
Prior to the meeting, members attended an
Energy Fair. Singing River Electric energy consultants were available during the Energy Fair to discuss efforts to conserve energy and lower power
bills. Fair attendees received free LED bulbs and air
filter whistles. Information shared at the
Energy Fair included:
• Five Do-It-Yourself (DIY) demonstrations on insulation, air filters, weather stripping, caulking and ceiling fan seasonal use.
• Interactive lighting display to show
advantages of LED lighting.
• Details on heat pump rebates, free
online and in-person energy audits, and
how to build a home according to the
Comfort Advantage or premium
Comfort Advantage Plus building programs.
Three Singing River Electric members
were elected for a new term on the cooperative board: Ralph Hicks representing
Greene, Perry and Wayne counties in
Miss., and Washington County in Ala.;
Don Parnell representing George and
Stone counties in Miss., and Mobile
County in Ala.; and Howard Davis rep-

resenting Jackson and Harrison counties in Miss.
Singing River Electric members Marvin
Blankinchip, Philip Busby, Milton Driskell, Daniel
Seymour, Obie Wells, Linda Eckford and Richard
Fleming served on the Credentials and Election
Committee. This committee reviews the election
process and applicants each year.

Above: Project Engineer Geoff Jakins helps a young
Annual Meeting attendee take a selfie in the bucket.
Top Right: Lucedale Cub Scout Troop number 525 leads the Pledge
of Allegiance at Singing River Electric’s 2016 Annual Meeting.
Right: SRE member service representatives Mandye Feranda and
Katie Hinton (front left) present member Jessica Neese her meeting
materials and attendance prize.
Below: SRE Member Services Representative Jeff Gray (right)
demonstrates the efficiency of LED bulbs at the Energy Fair.

“The Youth Tour has been such an amazing opportunity.
Most importantly, the Youth Tour has given me a great appreciation
for the history of our nation, the people who have given their lives to
protect it, and my responsibility as a citizen.”
- Alyssa Britton, Ocean Springs, Miss.

August 2016 I Today in Mississippi I 10c

Hundreds of students in Mississippi
and thousands of students across the
nation compete each year for the
opportunity to win the trip of a lifetime. The Electric Cooperative Youth
Tour is supported locally by
Mississippi cooperatives, organized
statewide by the Electric Power
Associations of Mississippi, and
nationally by the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association
(NRECA).
Singing River Electric sponsored four of
the 64 students who represented Mississippi
on this week-long, all-expense-paid adventure in our nation’s capital city. Alyssa
Britton, Samuel Goff, Taylor McDonald and
Cailin Sims were among those chosen to
learn about their nation’s history and role of
government in this hands-on leadership
experience.
Alyssa is the daughter of Mark Britton of
Ocean Springs. She will be a senior at St.
Martin High School. Samuel will be a senior
at East Central High School and is the son of
Jody and Jennie Goff of Moss Point. Taylor is
the daughter of Terrance and Phyllis
McDonald of Lucedale, and will be a senior
at George County High School. Cailin will be
a senior at Vancleave High School and is the
daughter of Loyd and Angela Sims of
Vancleave.
During their time in Washington, D.C., on
June 11-17, they toured all of the major
monuments and memorials including the
Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., Air
Force, World War II, Korean War and the
Vietnam Veterans memorials.
“The Youth Tour has been such an amazing opportunity for me,” said Alyssa. “Most
importantly, the Youth Tour has given me a
great appreciation for the history of our
nation, the people who have given their
lives to protect it, and my responsibility as a
citizen.”

The students visited the Washington
National Cathedral, toured Mt. Vernon, the
historic home of our nation’s first president,
George Washington, and attended the popular Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps Iwo
Jima Memorial. They enjoyed a performance
by the U.S. Marine Forces Reserve Band.
While visiting Arlington National Cemetery,
the students reverently watched the changing of the guard and visited the gravesites
of several of our nation’s prominent
figures.
“It is important for us, the future
leaders of America, to remember our
past so we can lead our nation into a
brighter future,” said Samuel. “By coming to
the place of our fathers’ fathers, we can
learn from their mistakes and successes and
remember those who came before us.”
A day on Capitol Hill began with a special
tour of the Congressional House Floor,
graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper.
After a tour of the Capitol, Alyssa, Samuel,
Taylor and Cailin visited with Rep. Steven
Palazzo in his D.C. office and had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Thad Cochran and
Sen. Roger Wicker.
“Being a part of this year’s Youth Tour
was an amazing experience. This tour
made me feel as if I stepped back into
time,” said Taylor.
The students also spent a day touring
the Smithsonian Museums. Two popular
events of the tour were a major league
baseball game at Nationals Park and an
evening cruise down the Potomac River.
“The 2016 Youth Tour cultivated a
new understanding of what it means to be
an American in me, and that in turn,
augmented a sense of patriotism and interest in politics that I already possessed,” said
Cailin. “From seeing my reflection in the
names of the dead and missing servicemen,
to shaking hands with my senators and
representatives, this has been an outstanding experience like no other. Thank you!”
The Youth Tour is part of an extensive
youth leadership program supported by
Singing River Electric.

Flying to D. C.

The White House
Iwo Jima

The National Cathedral

Representative Steven Palazzo

10d

I

Today in Mississippi

I

August 2016

Hurricane Prep
What To Do During The Storm
Safety is the utmost concern before, during and after a storm.
Here are some tips when it comes to generator safety.
Generator Safety Tips:
• Connect appliances directly to the generator. Never connect a
generator directly to your home’s wiring. (This can energize power
lines and endanger the lives of SRE linemen as well as visiting crews.)
• Ensure the generator you choose has ample capacity for the load.
• Consult a licensed electrician to help with installation.
• Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before use.
• Be careful to use generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas.

Report a power outage WITH THE TOUCH OF A SCREEN
Step One: Download SmartHub app.

Step Two:

Step Three:

Step Four:

Step Five:

Select “Report an
Outage” icon.

Select “Report an
Outage.”

Type in comments and
Select “Submit.”

Recheck app later to
verify power has been
restored.

Also view a live outage map.

August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

I

11

We can’t recognize you…
without your phone number.
Update your contact
information (phone and email)
this hurricane season.
When you call to report an outage and
we have your phone number on file, our
outage management system recognizes
your location, compares it with any
known outages and alerts our staff.
Dispatch employees then verify the
outage and assign it to a serviceman or
crew for repairs. Knowing the outage
location phone number speeds our
response time and shortens your outage.

How to update your
phone number:
• Call any Singing River Electric office
(601-947-4211, 228-497-1313) and
press “8” to change the number
associated with your account.
• Email your phone number(s) to
contactus@singingriver.com. Please
put “Verify Contact Information” in
the subject line.
• Or visit Singing River Electric’s
offices located in Lucedale, Gautier
and Sand Hill. See office locations,
office hours and phone numbers
using your SmartHub app or at
www.singingriver.com.

The quickest way to report a power outage is with the SmartHub app.
Download app at singingriver.com.

Our Perfect Sleep Chair® is just the chair to do it all.
It’s
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lift chairs – but this chair is so
much more! It’s designed to
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comfortable, long-term sitting,
TV viewing, relaxed
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Our chair’s recline
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you to pause the chair
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of positions, including
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This lift chair
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puts you safely
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on your feet!

And there’s more! The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style
back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort.
Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm
support when sitting or reclining. The high and low heat
settings along with the dozens of massage settings, can
provide a soothing relaxation you might get at a spa – just
imagine getting all that in a lift chair! Shipping charge
includes white glove delivery. Professionals will deliver the
chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it,
unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the
packaging away! Includes one year service warranty and your
choice of fabrics and colors. – Call now!

We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down in bed and
sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or
back aches – it could be a variety of reasons. Those are the
nights we’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep
in, one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises feet
and legs to precisely the desired level, supports the head and
shoulders properly, operates easily even in the dead of night,
and sends a hopeful sleeper right off to dreamland.

love the other benefits, too: It helps with correct spinal
alignment, promotes back pressure relief, and encourages
better posture to prevent back and muscle pain.

Burgundy

Chocolate

Indigo

August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

64 of Mississippi’s finest high school juniors
spent part of their summer vacation exploring the nation’s capital
and making new friends, courtesy of their electric power association

As participants in the 30th annual Mississippi Electric
Cooperative Youth Tour, the students visited many of
Washington’s historic and cultural sites, including the
Smithsonian Institution, Arlington National Cemetery and the
Washington National Cathedral. They also took part in special
events with more than 1,700 students from 47 states.
A highlight of the week-long tour was a visit to the U.S.
Capitol, where Rep. Gregg Harper took the Mississippi students to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives before
the congressmen convened. Harper also personally took the
students onto the Speaker’s Balcony that overlooks the
Washington Mall. Each student had the opportunity to visit
his or her senator and congressman.
“I have learned so much from each person on Youth Tour
that I will never forget,” said Jack VanDevender, of
Shuqualak. “I am so thankful for each person I met and the
bonds created.”
Jack was selected during the Youth Leadership Workshop in
March to represent Mississippi on the national Youth
Leadership Council.
The workshop, held in Jackson, and Youth Tour are components of the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Youth
Leadership program. Participants are chosen through a com-

petitive process sponsored by their local electric power association. The goals of the program are to motivate students to
assume leadership roles and to help them obtain the skills
they will need to become effective, respected leaders in the
future.

“As an organization, we value our
investment in the development of our young
leaders. It’s amazing to watch these youth in
action; they are already serving in leadership
roles in their schools and communities.”
– Ron Stewart
“The success of our leadership program has been achieved
by becoming a part of their lives and challenging them to set
goals and work hard in making a difference in the lives of others,” said Ron Stewart, senior vice president of the Electric
Power Associations of Mississippi. “They know we truly care
about them.”
2016 Mississippi Youth Tour delegates and their sponsoring electric power associations are Alcorn County EPA:
Hailey Hodum, Luke Price; Central EPA: Wallace Bass, Dylan

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Shape into a ball and refrigerate. Before serving, garnish with additional chutney, if desired. Serve with crackers. Serves 16.

Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup

RECIPES FROM:

‘Day in the Country’
Beyond the community it serves, Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in
Madison County is known for its history, its popular A Day in the Country fall
festival and, as featured here, its hugely successful cookbook.
“Day in the Country: Sharing Our History, Heritage & Fabulous Fare
Through the Generations” serves up 169 recipes based on fresh ingredients and
simple preparation. It’s all here: foods for everyday meals, tailgate snacking, entertaining and special occasion dining. Included are “secret” recipes, including the
award-winning recipes of the Chapel’s own Heavenly Hogs Barbeque
Team.
The emphasis is on the
homemade, from dressings
and soups to breads and
desserts. Cooking instructions
and tips are peppered throughout the book. Stories about
church history, people and
foods—including the one about
the original 63 Egg Cake (an
1859 recipe)—make this a cookbook as interesting to read as it is
inspiring.
The 63 Egg Cake takes center
stage at A Day in the Country, the
Chapel’s largest fund-raising event
since 1979. Held on the first
Saturday in October, the event features good food, wholesome fun, a country store with baked goodies, large crafts
fair, activities for kids, silent auction, Chapel and cemetery tours, hayrides and
much more. The event draws thousands from across the state.
The full-color cookbook may be purchased on the Chapel of the Cross website, chapelofthecrossms.org. Price for the 262-page hardcover book (with lay-flat
binding) is $28.95, plus tax.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In large pot of boiling water, cook the carrots until very
tender. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add white sugar, brown sugar,
baking powder, vanilla and cinnamon to carrots, and mix with electric mixer until
smooth. Mix in flour, eggs and butter. Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish. Bake 1
hour, or until top is golden brown. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners’ sugar before
serving. Serves 10.

Peel cucumber and cut into large pieces. Halve avocados, remove pits and scoop
out pulp. Cut green onions into large pieces. Purée all ingredients in a blender
until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, and serve. Serves 4.

Remove tenderloin from package, rinse and pat dry. Combine sage, thyme, allspice,
salt and pepper. Rub herb and spice mixture evenly over tenderloins. (This can be
done right before you put them on the grill or as far ahead as the day before. Just
place in a zip-top plastic bag and refrigerate.) Grill tenderloins over medium fire
until nicely browned on all sides and meat thermometer inserted into thickest portions registers 160 F. Remove from grill and place on platter or sheet pan. Let meat
rest 10 to 15 minutes. For the glaze, combine marmalade, mustard, Worcestershire
sauce, ginger and garlic in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Brush all sides of tenderloins liberally with orange Dijon sauce, reserving remainder
of sauce to be served with the pork. Slice and serve, garnishing meat platter with
freshly sliced oranges and sprigs of fresh herbs. Serves 4 to 6.

Preheat oven to 325 F. In a small saucepan, heat cream and vanilla to simmer, but
do not boil. In separate bowl, whisk together sugar and egg yolks. Add warm cream
very slowly, whisking constantly to avoid cooking eggs. Add mango nectar, Key
lime juice and lime zest. Divide among 8 (4-inch) ramekins. Place ramekins in bottom of large roasting pan. Place in oven and carefully pour enough hot water into
roasting pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake until almost set in center
when dishes are gently shaken, about 30 to 35 minutes. Using tongs, carefully
remove ramekins from roasting pan and transfer to cooling rack. Let cool 30 minutes, cover and chill at least 3 hours and up to 2 days. When ready to serve, sprinkle each custard with 2 teaspoons sugar. Place ramekins on baking sheet and place
under broiler until sugar is melted and browned, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate until
custards are firm again but topping is still brittle, at least 2 hours, but no longer
than 4 hours so that topping doesn’t soften. Garnish with blackberries and serve.
Serves 8.

Tupelo Hardware
Take a step back in time at

August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

I

By Nancy Jo Maples
find what you need at Tupelo Hardware, then
An “X” made of duct tape marks the spot
you don’t need it.”
on the old wooden floor at Tupelo Hardware
Celebrating its 90th year, the hardware
where Elvis Presley stood in 1946 to buy his
emporium sells a huge variety of items ranging
first guitar.
from nuts and bolts to T-shirts. It is known for
“Elvis really wanted a bicycle he had seen in
its enormous selection of mill and industrial
our window, but couldn’t afford it,” Connie
pieces, small engine parts and general hardware.
Tullos, the store’s Elvis docent, said. “Then he
Customers will find “everything under the sun.”
became interested in a .22 rifle but his mother
“We’ve always been known for having a large
didn’t want him to have that. Mr. Bobo was
selection. My grandfather always said you couldworking that day and reached into the music
n’t sell from an empty wagon,” owner George
display case and pulled out a guitar. Elvis
H. Booth II said.
played with it a little and decided to get it. His
Booth is a third-generation hardware store
mother was apologetic to him about not being
man. His grandfather, the first George H.
able to afford anything else. We like to tell
Booth, started the store in 1926 in a building
people that he turned to his mother and said,
across the street and constructed the current
‘That’s all right, mama.’”
facility on the corner of Main and Front Streets
The purchase was a gift for Elvis’ 11th
in 1941. George II’s father, William, began
birthday. Anybody who knows much about
managing the store when he returned from
Elvis Presley, or about Mississippi, is aware
World War II in 1945 and operated it until his
that the King of Rock-n-Roll was born in
death in 2000. Since that time, George II has
Tupelo. He grew up just a few blocks from
managed the store and his son, George III,
Tupelo Hardware and frequented the store. A
became a full-time employee in 2014.
family friend and relative,
The store became famously known for selling
Forrest Bobo, worked there and
Gladys Presley a guitar for her son after the legsold Elvis the guitar. In 1979 at
endary singer’s 1977 death. Journalists flocked
age 78, Bobo documented the
to Tupelo to interview people who knew him in
details of Elvis’ purchase in a
his younger years. The fact that his first guitar
signed statement which read:
came from Tupelo Hardware surfaced and
“I showed him the rifle first
before long fans began going into the store out
and then I got the guitar for
of curiosity. Many became fond of the store
him to look at. I put a wood
because of the uniqueness of its original décor.
box behind the showcase and
“It’s like it was when Elvis walked in the
let him play with the guitar for
door,” Booth said. “And I don’t plan to change
some time. Then he said that
it. I just like it the way it is.”
he did not have that much
The three-story brick building in historic
money, which was only $7.75
downtown Tupelo mesmerizes first-time visitors
plus 2 percent sales tax.
with its old-fashioned glass-fronted counters and
“His mother told him that if
its ceiling-high shelves stocked full of items
he would buy the guitar instead Connie Tullos is the Elvis Presley docent at Tupelo Hardware and George H. Booth II is the store’s owner. The accessible by a rolling ladder. The original light
historic store looks much as it did when Elvis bought his first guitar there, at age 11.
of the rifle, she would pay the
fixtures hang from the tall ceilings and, for the
difference for him. The papers
most part, the same coat of paint is still on
have said that the guitar cost $12.50 but at that time Many travel to Tupelo from Memphis while on a sort wood surfaces. Old tables located everywhere display
of Elvis holy site pilgrimage. Most are in groups of 25 goods for sale. The store serves not only as a retail
you could have bought a real nice one for that
to 40. Thus, the need for the store to have an
amount. The small amount of money that he had to
outlet but as a museum of days long past.
spend had been earned by running errands and doing employee dedicated to the Elvis tourists.
Store hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m.
Tullos is the perfect choice considering she is a
small jobs for people.”
until 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. until noon. In
member and past president of the Tupelo Elvis Fan
Tupelo Hardware has become a stopping site on
keeping with modern times, purchases can be made
Club. On a regular day in the off-season for Elvis
Elvis tours. The late singer’s fans visit in droves each
online by visiting www.tupelohardware.com
events, the store still gets several hundred visitors;
year, especially in June during the week of the city’s
And just in case you’re wondering, Tupelo
some enter the door for the Elvis nostalgia and some Hardware still sells guitars.
annual Elvis festival. Tullos estimated that about
Writer Nancy Jo Maples can be reached at 188 Ernest
2,000 came through the store during the week of this just want to see the charm of the old store.
Pipkins Road, Lucedale, MS 39452 or
If you’re not that into Elvis, the store is still an
year’s festival. On the anniversaries of his birth date
nancyjomaples@aol.com.
attention-getter. The store’s slogan is, “If you can’t
and death date the number of visitors is greatest.

15

16

I

Marketplace

Today in Mississippi

I

August 2016

Type or print your ad clearly. Be sure to include your telephone number.
Deadline is the 10th of each month for the next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue. Rate is $2.50 per
word, 10-word minimum. Mail payment with your ad to Today in Mississippi,
P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300. Have any questions?
Phone 601-605-8600 or email advertising@epaofms.com.

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August 2016

I

Today in Mississippi

I

17

Recalling Katrina: One church’s long road to recovery
received an invitation to
speak at Lakeshore Baptist
Church near Bay St. Louis
and Waveland in June. My
speaking schedule was clear
on that date, so I said, “Yes, I will be
honored.” Juanita Shiyou, the lady in
charge of planning programs for the
Woman’s Society, said, “Now be sure
and bring Mr. Roy. Everyone wants to
meet him.”
I knew Hurricane Katrina had aimed
its enormous eye at these towns 11 years
ago on Aug. 29. I also knew that this area
had more damage and deaths than any
area on the Coast.
My heart was beating triple time as I
prepared my speech and when we arrived
at the Mercy House, their building for
special occasions. The building’s height
from ground to first floor was the tallest
I’d seen as a protection from rising water.
Near the steps a lift was moving up
and down for folks who had an arm full
or just enjoyed the ride. Several ladies
hurried to meet us on the porch, smiling
and hugging our necks like we were old
friends. As we walked inside the laughing, talking and busyness was a joy to
behold. Almost every lady hurried over
and hugged our necks ... you would have
thought we were relatives or celebrities.
By the time we left, I felt a story brewing in my head. I called Juanita a couple

I

days later to set up a meeting with her.
When she called back she said, “I asked a
cross section of only three people to meet
with us. Every person who lives here had
an unparalleled experience.” She said,
laughing, “We’d
be here for days
... if I asked all
our church
members.”
The Rev.
Don Elbourne,
Barbara
Anderson, Janice
Grin ‘n’
Mowbary and
Juanita met with
Bare It
me and my
by Kay Grafe
chauffeur, Mr.
Roy. We sat in
her den and Mr. Roy, my stenographer,
and I asked questions for hours.
Bro. Don spoke first. “After the storm,
a reporter said ‘I’m sorry you lost your
church.’ I immediately answered, ‘You’re
wrong! The building’s gone, but the
church is standing strong.’ And, I had
calls from people wanting to help rebuild
the church building, but we had already
decided to rebuild the 40 church member
houses lost before we rebuilt the church.”
“Bro. Don, how long have you been
the pastor of the Lakeshore Baptist?” I
asked.
“I have been here 22 years. At the time

of the hurricane I was in my last year at
the seminary in New Orleans. Bay St.
Louis and Waveland are home to me. I
couldn’t leave now.
“We had our service on the church’s
slab the first Sunday after Katrina. All of
our church members lost everything
except their hope and faith. We had no
electricity, water or shelter. Members
rummaged through the debris and found
a dozen or so folding chairs and a couple
of broken pews. My brother built a cross
from the broken beams. We sang
‘Amazing Grace’ and I preached from
Habakkuk 3:17-19 and John 14:1-6.”
Juanita spoke up and said, “Tell them
about the steeple.”
“Yes, please,” I said.
Bro. Don began. “The church had no
steeple, only a bell tower that was
destroyed in ‘69 by Camille. Thirty years
later we replaced it with a beautiful
steeple made of fiberglass. In less than
five years Katrina moved in. The steeple
was the only thing left of our church. It
floated out into the woods, but we
hauled it back and worked to secure it
out in front of the slab. In December
2005 we obtained a metal Quonset hut
and this is where we had services for 10
years.
“Yes, that’s the same steeple that is on
the new church ... we dedicated the
building on the 10th anniversary of

Katrina, Aug. 29, 2015. And the love
that poured out from almost all 50 states
is the big story here. There were 700 people who came to help rebuild the houses
first, and then the church.
I said, “This story is only the tip of the
hurricane stories.” I looked at the three
ladies. “Tell me a short summary of your
experiences and Katrina.”
Janice said, “My husband had died
four months before Katrina, and I had
not learned how to take care of normal
house business before the storm hit. I
lived in Waveland and lost everything, so
I lived in a FEMA trailer and worked for
a company that hauled debris away. We
lost 50 people in Waveland and 238 in
Hancock County.”
Juanita spoke up. “FEMA would not
help my husband and me, only because
we had a little flood insurance, so we
moved to Virginia near my sister for two
years and eight months. Her church let
us stay in the empty parsonage for two
years free. It was furnished. My sons lost
their homes, but they stayed. We rebuilt
here at Lakeshore, but before we moved
my husband died. This is my home, so I
came home. These people are part of my
family now.”
“Barbara, what's your story?” I asked.
She smiled. “My husband and I used
to vacation here from California. We
adored the people and so shortly before
the hurricane hit we sold our house in
California and moved our furniture to a
warehouse in Gulfport. The warehouse
was destroyed, but we came anyway!”
Readers, I can only say that Heaven
must be full of people just like these loving folks—and also like the 700 who
drove from Michigan and New Jersey
and almost every state to help rebuild and
repair this area. They taught me a lesson
about loving your neighbors I shall never
forget.
Note: For more information on this
wonderful church, go to
www.rebuildlakeshore.com.
Kay Grafe is the author of “Oh My Gosh,
Virginia.” To order, send name, address,
phone number and $16.95, plus $3.50
S&H to Kay Grafe, 2142 Fig Farm Road,
Lucedale, MS 39452.

18

I

Today in Mississippi

I

August 2016

MISSISSIPPI

Events

Want more than 400,000 readers to know about your special event? Submit it at least two months prior
to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Mail to Mississippi
Events, Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300; fax to 601-605-8601; or send to
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events are subject to change; we recommend calling to confirm details before traveling.

John Luke’s girlfriend was his first passenger. “The first
time I took her for a ride in it, all she could do was
squeal the whole time.”
They were queals of excitement, he clarified. Since
then his three sisters and mother, Linda, have flown
with him.
The RV-4 is a high performance aircraft that flies at
200 mph. Gross described it as responsive, agile and
smooth.
“It’s like driving a Ferrari around, or an Indy
Formula race car. It’s designed to fly like a small fighter
aircraft,” he said.
Looking back on the four-year project, John Luke
and his dad both laugh and shake their heads.
“It wasn’t always fun,” John Luke said. “There were
times when I just wanted to take a hammer and smash

the whole thing to pieces.”
Overall, however, John Luke said it was a positive
experience. “And we got to work on it together. That
was fun.”
Building a private airplane is a common dream of
pilots, Gross said. “I can’t tell you how many grown
men wished they could do it. But it’s an extremely rare
thing for somebody his age to take on a project like
that.”
“Every time I get in it, I have to remind myself that
I don’t have to give somebody the keys back,” John
Luke said.
Will he build another airplane some day? “Oh,
yeah,” he said. “I’ve had to restrain myself a lot from
trying to jump into another one right now.”
Although John Luke has a list of six more planes he
wants to build, it’s Dad’s turn. Last Christmas, John

Rates vary slightly by zip code.
Not affiliated with any government agency

HAMILTON INSURANCE
AGENCY
Call

800-336-9861
6045 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211

Luke gave his father the plans for a wooden aircraft
designed in 1929, Gross’ own dream plane.
This summer John Luke will report to duty at Key
Field, in Meridian. He was selected in May by the
186th Air
Refueling
Wing of
the
Mississippi
Air
National
John Gross takes his son’s airplane up for its maiden
Guard for
flight to check out its systems and operation. Photo:
military
John Luke Gross
pilot training. The 186th flies the KC-135 Stratotanker, an aerial
refueling aircraft.
“It’s a great job,” John Luke said. “You get to fly
around, explore the world and get paid to do it.”
As for his RV-4 ... “I told him I’d make sure it doesn’t get dusty,” Gross said.

August 2016

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RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON
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EASY-STORE STEP
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$

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6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV
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20 TON SHOP PRESS

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LOT 68121/69727 shown
CALIFORNIA ONLY

8

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9999
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LOT 62534/69643 shown

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Includes 6V,
900 mAh NiCd
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32

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4599

• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers

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61634/61952
• 580 lb.
capacity

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61807 shown

1500 LB. CAPACITY
MOTORCYCLE LIFT

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LOT 69995 shown
60536/61632

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• 176 lb. capacity

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Fits flat screen TVs from 37" to 70".

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63271/68784 shown

5 PIECE PLIERS SET

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LOT 62823/69351 shown
69353/62597/62598

10"

10"
8"

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38999

$ 99

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8

$17.99

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• No Hassle Return Policy
• Lifetime Warranty On All Hand Tools

$135

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8"
6"

• Weighs 245 lbs.

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$57.37

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26", 4 DRAWER
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LOT 62289 C

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TILTING FLAT PANEL
TV MOUNT

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RIAL QUALITY
44", 13 DRAWER INDUST
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LOT 32879
60603 shown

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$328

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60 LED SOLAR SECURITY LIGHT

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12" SLIDING COMPOUND
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$ 97

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We have invested millions of
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